GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dan Mullen announced the addition to his staff of two veteran coaches who have more than 60 years of combined coaching experience,
Greg Knox and
Sal Sunseri.
Knox follows Mullen from Mississippi State, where he worked as a running backs coach (2009-17) and special teams coordinator (2014-17). A native of Rosebud, Texas, Knox has over 20 years of Southeastern Conference coaching experience at Ole Miss, Auburn, and Mississippi State.
Most recently, Knox led the Bulldogs to a Taxslayer Bowl win over Louisville on Dec. 30 as MSU's interim head coach.
Overall, Sunseri has 34 years of coaching experience that includes 10 seasons in the NFL and five in the SEC.
Prior to his stint with the Raiders, Sunseri spent two years at Florida State (2013-14).
In addition, he has been a defensive coordinator (Tennessee, 2012), assistant head coach at Alabama for Nick Saban (2009-11) and a seven-year defensive line coach for the Carolina Panthers (2002-08) of the NFL.
Prior to his time at Carolina, Sunseri worked as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Michigan State in 2001 after spending 2000 on Saban's Louisiana State staff in the same capacity. He was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Alabama A&M in 1998 and 1999 after three seasons as the linebackers coach at Louisville. Sunseri's climb of the coaching ladder included one-year stops at Illinois State (1994) and Iowa Wesleyan (1993).
He broke into coaching at his alma mater, Pittsburgh, in 1985 and directed the defensive line and linebackers before being named assistant head coach in 1992.
Complete Greg Knox Bio:
Mississippi State (2009-17)
Knox molded raw backs into All-Southeastern Conference talent and pros, coaching four starting running backs to the NFL. Over the course of his nine seasons in Starkville, Knox tutored a 1,000-yard rusher five times. Four of those backs reached the NFL with his latest success story Aeris Williams likely to follow in the coming years.
Williams emerged as one of the top running backs in the SEC late in 2016, rushing for over 100 yards twice. As a sophomore that season, he averaged 112.5 yards per game on the ground in the last four regular season games of the year, including a spectacular 191-yard, two-touchdown performance in a 55-20 triumph over Ole Miss.
In 2017, MSU averaged 249.6 yards per game on the ground, which is third in the SEC and 14th nationally. That tally is the best by a Bulldog squad since 1980 when it put up a school-record 280.5 yards
per game.
In addition, Mississippi State produced the SEC's most individual 100-yard rushing games this season with 11 (six by Nick Fitzgerald, four by Williams, one by Keytaon Thompson). State rushed for over 250 yards eight times and was 7-1 in those contests.
The Bulldogs have eclipsed 250 rushing yards in 12 out of their last 19 games dating back to the 2016 season.
In 2015, Knox worked with junior Brandon Holloway, who was one of only three FBS players to record at least 400 rushing yards, 300 receiving yards and 500 kick return yards. Holloway cracked the MSU single-season top 10 for kickoff return yards with 567, including a school-record-tying 100-yarder in the season-opener at Southern Miss.
Josh Robinson, a once three-star high school recruit, was another Knox protégé. In 2014, Robinson earned second-team All-SEC honors and ranked third in the SEC in rushing yards. His 1,203 yards on the ground ranked third in school history while his 11 rushing scores tied for ninth in MSU annals. Robinson's 1,573 all-purpose yards ended up second in school history.
Knox helped Robinson – in his first season as a starter -- develop into one of the league's most dazzling playmakers and one of the nation's toughest after-contact runners. The Bulldogs' ground attack catapulted the program to just its third 10-win season in school history, its first-ever No. 1 national ranking and its first appearance in the Orange Bowl in 73 years.
In May 2014, Robinson became the third MSU running back to be taken in the NFL Draft since 2010 when the Indianapolis Colts called his number in the sixth round with pick No. 205.
In 2013, LaDarius Perkins capped his career as the fifth-leading rusher in school history with 2,554 career yards. With Knox's help in 2012, Perkins finished the regular season fourth in the SEC in rushing and second in the league in all-purpose yards. Through the first half of the 2012 campaign, Perkins was one of only two players nationally with a rushing touchdown through his first seven games.
Knox also mentored Anthony Dixon, the former NFL standout, during his senior season. Dixon rushed for a school-record 1,391 yards and found the end zone 12 times. But it wasn't only the All-SEC tailback who thrived under Knox's guidance, as the running backs combined for more than 2,000 yards as the Bulldogs led the conference in rushing yards.
Knox's second season may have been an even greater coaching feat. Without a proven commodity like Dixon, the Bulldog offense used several different backs to accomplish nearly the same thing. Vick Ballard burst onto the scene and broke the 58-year-old school record for rushing touchdowns in a single season (19). Knox continued to coach Ballard for his senior season in 2011, when Ballard rewrote the school record book for running backs and went on to be drafted in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2012 NFL Draft.
He added a new title to his resume in the spring of 2014 as special team's coordinator.
Over the previous four seasons (2014-17) under Knox, MSU ranks first in the SEC in blocked kicks and punts with 14, including two last season by Jeffery Simmons at Louisiana Tech in Week 2. Overall, that tally is third in the nation since 2014.
Auburn & Ole Miss (1995-2008)
Knox came to Mississippi State following a 14-year stretch as Tommy Tuberville's wide receivers coach at both Ole Miss and Auburn. Knox was also the recruiting coordinator for the last 13 of those seasons.
A veteran of 15 postseason bowl games, Knox helped lead the Auburn offense to the top of the SEC in scoring in both 2004 and 2005.
He helped Ole Miss reach the 1997 Motor City Bowl, and was part of Auburn coaching staffs that finished football seasons in the 2001 Citrus and Peach Bowls, 2003 Capital One and Music City Bowls, the 2005 Sugar Bowl, the 2006 Capital One Bowl, and the 2007 Cotton and Chick-fil-A Bowls.
Of the eight players he has had selected in the NFL Draft, three came in just two years while at Auburn (Courtney Taylor in 2007, and Ben Obomanu and Devin Aromashodu in 2006). Knox helped Taylor become the school's all-time leader in receptions, and Obomanu finished second in touchdown receptions.
Background
After earning his bachelor's degree while playing quarterback for Northeastern State, Knox began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1988. Knox spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Northeastern State and two at TCU before being named to the staff at Stephen F. Austin in 1992.
In three seasons on the Lumberjacks' staff as the receivers and special teams coach, Knox helped a program that had won only three games in the previous two seasons to the 1993 FCS playoffs and a top-25 ranking the following season.
A native of Rosebud, Texas, Knox is married to the former Toralyn Foster, and the couple has three sons --- Gregory, Torian and Tyson.
GREG KNOX Coaching History
| Seasons |
School/Team |
Title/Position Coached |
| 2018-Present |
Florida |
Assistant Coach |
| 2014-17 |
Mississippi State |
Running Backs / Special Teams Coordinator |
| 2009-13 |
Mississippi State |
Running Backs |
| 1999-2008 |
Auburn |
Wide Receivers / Recruiting Coordinator |
| 1996-98 |
Ole Miss |
Wide Receivers / Recruiting Coordinator |
| 1995 |
Ole Miss |
Wide Receivers |
| 1992-94 |
Stephen F. Austin |
Wide Receivers / Special Teams |
| 1990-91 |
TCU |
Graduate Assistant |
| 1988-89 |
Northeastern State |
Graduate Assistant |
POSTSEASON History
| Season |
Bowl / Playoff Game |
Opponent |
Result |
| 2017 |
Taxslayer Bowl (Mississippi State) |
Louisville |
W, 31-27 |
| 2016 |
St. Petersburg Bowl (Mississippi State) |
Miami (Ohio) |
W, 17-16 |
| 2015 |
Belk Bowl (Mississippi State) |
N.C. State |
W, 51-28 |
| 2014 |
Orange Bowl (Mississippi State) |
Georgia Tech |
L, 49-34 |
| 2013 |
Liberty Bowl (Mississippi State |
Rice |
W, 44-7 |
| 2013 |
Gator Bowl (Mississippi State) |
Northwestern |
L, 34-20 |
| 2011 |
Music City Bowl (Mississippi State) |
Wake Forest |
W, 23-17 |
| 2011 |
Gator Bowl (Mississippi State) |
Michigan |
W, 52-14 |
| 2007 |
Chick-fil-A Bowl (Auburn) |
Clemson |
W, 23-20 |
| 2007 |
AT&T Cotton Bowl (Auburn) |
Nebraska |
W, 17-14 |
| 2006 |
Capital One Bowl (Auburn) |
Wisconsin |
L, 24-10 |
| 2005 |
Sugar Bowl (Auburn) |
Virginia Tech |
W, 16-13 |
| 2003 |
Music City Bowl (Auburn) |
Wisconsin |
W, 28-14 |
| 2003 |
Capital One Bowl (Auburn) |
Penn State |
W, 13-9 |
| 2001 |
Peach Bowl (Auburn) |
North Carolina |
L, 16-10 |
| 2001 |
Citrus Bowl (Auburn) |
Michigan |
L, 31-28 |
| 1997 |
Motor City Bowl (Ole Miss) |
Marshall |
W, 34-31 |
NFL PLAYERS (ROUND DRAFTED)
RB Josh Robinson (6th) – Mississippi State '15 – Indianapolis Colts
RB Vick Ballard (5th) – Mississippi State '12 – Indianapolis Colts
RB Anthony Dixon (6th) – Mississippi State '10 – San Francisco 49ers
WR Courtney Taylor (6th) – Auburn '07 – Seattle Seahawks
WR Devin Aromashodu (7th) – Auburn '06 – Miami Dolphins
WR Benjamin Obomanu (7th) – Auburn '06 – Seattle Seahawks
WR Jeris McIntyre (6th) – Auburn '04 – Kansas City Chiefs
WR Tim Carter (2nd) – Auburn '02 – New York Giants
Personal Information
Birthdate: Sept. 10, 1963
Hometown: Rosebud, Texas
Education: 1986- Bachelor's from Northeastern State; 1990- Masters from Northeastern State
Wife: Toralyn
Children: Gregory, Torian and Tyson
Complete Sal Sunseri Bio:
Oakland Raiders (2015-17)
Despite a disappointing overall record in 2017, veteran linebacker Navarro Bowman, who joined the team midway through the season, finished tied for first on the team with 89 tackles and also accrued 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one interception and two fumbles recovered.
In addition, Bruce Irvin finished second on the team with 8.5 sacks, while Nicholas Morrow and Cory James finished the season with 60 and 56 tackles, respectively across 16 contests.
Under Sunseri in 2016, LB Malcolm Smith led the team in tackles for the second-straight year with 115 (87 solo). Smith appeared in 15 games and finished with one interception, six passes defensed and tied a career-high two forced fumbles. Veteran LB Perry Riley Jr., who joined the team a quarter of the way into the season, proved to be a great addition for the Raiders in his first season, as he finished with 62 tackles (45) in just 11 games. New free agent signee Irvin tied for first in the NFL with six forced fumbles while setting a career-high 61 tackles (46) in his first year with the Silver and Black.
Sunseri guided then rookie Cory James, who emerged as a significant contributor in 2016. James appeared in all 16 games with five starts and recorded 48 tackles (38) with one forced fumble.
Under Sunseri's tutelage in 2015, free agent signee Smith led Oakland in tackles in his first year with the team, recording a career-high 143. Smith helped solidify the Raiders' linebacking corps, starting all 16 games and playing nearly every defensive snap. Smith finished with four sacks, good for second on the team. Sunseri helped develop rookie LBs Neiron Ball and Ben Heeney as they made substantial contributions in their first year. Ball emerged as a starter at outside linebacker before injuring his knee in Week 7, totaling nine tackles (four), one sack and one pass defended in six games with two starts. Heeney played in 15 games with three starts and earned 39 tackles (28), 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
Florida State (2013-14)
Sunseri helped Florida State complete a 13-1 Rose Bowl campaign in 2014 and an undefeated (14-0) BCS National Championship season in 2013. Following the 2013 season, Sunseri was promoted to head coach of defense while continuing to serve as defensive ends coach. The 2014 Seminole defense was key to Florida State's school- and ACC-record 29-game winning streak, which tied for the 12th longest streak in NCAA history.
Seven FSU defenders were named to the All-ACC team in 2014. DE Mario Edwards Jr. led the team with 11 tackles for loss and also had three sacks, five passes defended and two forced fumbles.
Overall, Florida State went 28-1 with Sunseri as an assistant coach, as he joined the team prior to the 2013 Orange Bowl. The 2013 National Championship marked Sunseri's third BCS title in five years, following his 2009 and 2011 championship runs at Alabama.
The defensive ends, coached by Sunseri, had monumental success in 2013. The Seminole defense also ranked No. 1 in scoring defense (12.1 points per game) and No. 3 in total defense (281.4 yards per game).
Christian Jones collected All-ACC Second-Team accolades and finished with 56 tackles, eight tackles for loss and a team-best six quarterback pressures, while Edwards Jr. was named to the All-ACC Third Team and finished with 28 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Tennessee (2012)
With the Vols, Sunseri coached two of the nation's top defensive players in LB A.J. Johnson and CB Byron Moore. Johnson was fourth in the nation and led the SEC with an average of 11.5 tackles per game. Moore was tied for 11th in the nation in interceptions, leading the SEC in that category.
Alabama (2009-11)
During his three year span in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide won two national championships (2009, 2011).
The 2011 Crimson Tide outside linebackers flourished under Sunseri and contributed to the overall success of the defense. Lombardi and Butkus Award finalist OLB Courtney Upshaw led the way with 17 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, which ranked second and fourth, respectively, in the SEC. Sunseri was also recognized individually for his contributions when he was named a finalist for the Broyles Award, presented to the nation's top assistant coach.
In 2010, Sunseri continued to build on his solid foundation from the National Championship season. The defensive unit ranked third in the country in scoring defense and fifth in total defense. Sophomore LB Dont'a Hightower garnered second-team All-SEC honors with 69 tackles and nine quarterback hurries. Upshaw led the Crimson Tide with 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks, and was named the MVP of the Capital One Bowl.
In Sunseri's first season at Alabama in 2009, he helped guide the Crimson Tide to the National Championship behind a dominant defense that ranked second nationally in four major categories: rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, total defense and scoring defense. The Alabama defense generated 32 sacks and 98 tackles for loss, despite losing Hightower to an early-season injury.
Carolina Panthers (2002-08)
Sunseri's defensive line with the Panthers was regarded as one of the best in the NFL. Defensive ends Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker and defensive tackle Kris Jenkins earned Pro Bowl honors during his tenure. He produced at least one Pro Bowl defensive lineman five times as the line coach. The Panthers were among the top 10 in the NFL in terms of fewest yards allowed in four of his seven seasons and made three playoff appearances.
Sunseri came to Carolina as a defensive assistant in 2002 and took over as defensive line coach in 2003.
It was a seamless transition as the Panthers defensive line accounted for 32.5 of the team's 40 total sacks and also produced a pair of Pro Bowl players in Jenkins and Rucker, setting the standard for which his future units would be measured.
Carolina also won the NFC Championship in 2003 with a 14-3 win over Philadelphia in the conference championship game, two years removed from a 1-15 season in 2001. The Panthers fell to New England in Super Bowl XXXVIII that season, 32-29. During Sunseri's time with the Carolina, the franchise won two NFC South titles and made the playoffs three times.
Pittsburgh (1985-92), Iowa Wesleyan (1993), Illinois State (1994), Louisville (1995-97), Alabama A&M (1998-99), LSU (2000), Michigan State (2001)
Sunseri worked as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Michigan State in 2001 after spending 2000 on Saban's Louisiana State staff in the same capacity. He was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Alabama A&M in 1998 and 1999 after three seasons as the linebackers coach at Louisville. Sunseri's climb of the coaching ladder included one-year stops at Illinois State (1994) and Iowa Wesleyan (1993).
He broke into coaching at his alma mater, Pittsburgh, in 1985 and directed the defensive line and linebackers before being named assistant head coach in 1992.
Background
Sunseri began his playing career at the University of Pittsburgh in 1978 as a walk-on and ended it as a team captain and consensus All-American as a senior in 1981. A three-year starter at linebacker, he helped the Panthers to a combined record of 33-3 and anchored a defensive unit that led the NCAA in total defense in 1980 and 1981. He was the defensive MVP in the 1982 Senior Bowl and was drafted in the 10th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers but had his pro career cut short by a knee injury in training camp.
He received a bachelor's degree in communications from Pittsburgh in 1982.
Sunseri is married to the former Roxann Evans, who was a varsity gymnast at Pittsburgh. The couple has two daughters, Jaclyn and Ashlyn (a former volleyball player at UAB), and two sons, Santino (a former quarterback at Pittsburgh) and Vinnie (a former defensive back at Alabama).
Santino spent two years in the CFL with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2013-14). Meanwhile, Vinnie was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2014 and playing in nine games as a rookie. He later played in six contests for the San Francisco 49ers in 2016.
Sal Sunseri Coaching History
| Seasons |
School/Team |
Title/Position Coached |
| 2018-Present |
Florida |
Assistant Coach |
| 2015-17 |
Oakland Raiders |
Linebackers |
| 2014 |
Florida State |
Defensive Head Coach / Defensive Ends |
| 2013 |
Florida State |
Defensive Ends |
| 2012 |
Tennessee |
Defensive Coordinator |
| 2009-11 |
Alabama |
Assistant Head Coach / Linebackers |
| 2003-08 |
Carolina Panthers |
Defensive Line |
| 2002 |
Carolina Panthers |
Defensive Assistant |
| 2001 |
Michigan State |
Linebackers / Special Teams |
| 2000 |
LSU |
Linebackers / Special Teams |
| 1998-99 |
Alabama A&M |
Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers |
| 1995-97 |
Louisville |
Linebackers |
| 1994 |
Illinois State |
Defensive Coordinator |
| 1993 |
Iowa Wesleyan |
Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator / Special Teams |
| 1992 |
Pittsburgh |
Defensive Line / Linebackers / Assistant Head Coach |
| 1985-91 |
Pittsburgh |
Defensive Line / Linebackers |
Postseason History
| Season |
Bowl / Playoff Game |
Opponent |
Result |
| 2016 |
Wildcard (Raiders) |
Texans |
L, 27-14 |
| 2014 |
Rose Bowl / CFP Playoff
(FSU) |
Oregon |
L, 59-20 |
| 2013 |
BCS National Championship (FSU) |
Auburn |
W, 34-31 |
| 2012 |
Orange Bowl (FSU) |
Northern Illinois |
W, 31-10 |
| 2011 |
BCS National Championship (Alabama) |
LSU |
W, 21-0 |
| 2010 |
Capital One Bowl |
Michigan State |
W, 49-7 |
| 2008 |
Division (Panthers) |
Cardinals |
L, 33-16 |
| 2005 |
NFC Conference Championship (Panthers) |
Seahawks |
L, 34-14 |
| 2005 |
Division (Panthers) |
Bears |
W, 29-21 |
| 2005 |
Wildcard (Panthers) |
Giants |
W, 23-0 |
| 2003 |
Super Bowl (Panthers) |
Patriots |
L, 32-29 |
| 2003 |
NFC Conference Championship (Panthers) |
Eagles |
W, 29-10 |
| 2003 |
Division (Panthers) |
Rams |
W, 29-23 |
| 2003 |
Wildcard (Panthers) |
Cowboys |
W, 14-3 |
| 2001 |
Silicon Valley Classic (Michigan State) |
Fresno State |
W, 44-35 |
| 2000 |
Peach Bowl (LSU) |
Georgia Tech |
W, 28-14 |
| 1989 |
John Hancock Bowl (Pitt) |
Texas A&M |
W, 31-28 |
| 1987 |
Bluebonnet Bowl (Pitt) |
Texas |
L, 32-27 |
NFL PLAYERS (ROUND DRAFTED)
DE DeMarcus Walker (2nd) – Florida State '17 – Denver Broncos
DE Mario Edwards Jr. (2nd) – Florida State '15 – Oakland Raiders
DT Daniel McCullers (6th) – Tennessee '14 – Pittsburgh Steelers
LB CJ Moseley (1st) – Alabama '14 – Baltimore Ravens
LB Nico Johnson (4th) – Alabama '13 – Kansas City Chiefs
LB Don't'a Hightower (1st) – Alabama '12 – New England Patriots
LB Courtney Upshaw (2nd) – Alabama '12 – Baltimore Ravens
LB Rolando McClain (1st) – Alabama '10 – Oakland Raiders
LB Tyrus McCloud (4th) – Louisville '97 – Baltimore Ravens
LB Alan Campos (5th) – Louisville '97 – Dallas Cowboys
QB Alex Van Pelt (8th) – Pittsburgh '93 – Pittsburgh Steelers
DE Sean Gilbert (1st) – Pittsburgh '92 – Los Angeles Rams
LB Ricardo McDonald (4th) – Pittsburgh '92 – Cincinnati Bengals
DT Keith Hamilton (4th) – Pittsburgh '92 – New York Giants
DT Mark Gunn (4th) – Pittsburgh '91 – New York Jets
DE Mark Spindler (3rd) – Pittsburgh '90 – Detroit Lions
DT Tom Sims (6th) – Pittsburgh '90 – Kansas City Chiefs
DE Carnel Smith (11th) – Pittsburgh '90 – Indianapolis Colts
DE Burt Grossman (1st) – Pittsburgh '89 – San Diego Chargers
LB Jerry Olsavsky (10th) – Pittsburgh '89 – Pittsburgh Steelers
DE Jon Carter (5th) – Pittsburgh '88 – New York Giants
DT Lorenzo Freeman (4th) – Pittsburgh '87 – Green Bay Packers
DE Bob Buczkowski (1st) – Pittsburgh '86 – Los Angeles Raiders
Personal Information
Education: Bachelor's from Pitt, 1982
Wife: Roxann
Children: Jaclyn, Ashlyn, Santino, Vinnie
